2012

A week later, Reilly was moved from the ICU to a room on the fourth floor. Kutner, Volakis and Cameron stopped in each day to see her. House stayed with her. He even slept in the room. They had a patient and House held the differential in her hospital room so she could participate. After the fifth day, Reilly was ready to go home. She completed all the post surgical tests and was tired of being confined to her bed. The neurosurgeon, Doctor Thompson, agreed she was ready to go home. She told Reilly she would need to say home on bed rest for at least three weeks and it would be longer before she was ready to drive.

"I'll move in," House said. "This way the girls can leave and Aunt Meara can go home."

Reilly smiled at him. "Sounds like a plan."

Early the next morning, he drove her home and helped her out of the car and up to the house. After he unlocked the door, and took her arm, she sighed in frustration.

"Don't hover," she told him. "I can walk just fine."

"I know that but you scared the hell out of me," he told her. "So, humor me."

She slumped slightly. "I'm sorry."

Sarah and Jenny came running down the stairs followed by Meara. They crowded around her, each trying to hug her. Reilly laughed and allowed them to lead her upstairs. When she entered her bedroom, she laughed. There was a mini fridge beside her night stand. A small plasma television sat on her dresser along with a DVD player and cable box. Books, medical journals and magazines were piled next to the window seat.

"Well," she said as she walked over to the bed and sat down. "Someone's been busy."

Meara nodded. "Greg ordered all the geegaws and set everything up for ya."

"Well, thank you," Reilly smiled at him. She kicked off her shoes and swung her legs up on the bed. Sinking back into the pillows, she sighed. Meara covered her with a light blanket and kissed her forehead. Then she gently ran her hand over Reilly's head avoiding the bandages covering her cut and the place where the surgeon drilled.

"How's your head feel?" she asked.

"I'm okay, Mom," Reilly assured her. "I'm just a little tired." She looked at the girls who hovered behind their grandmother. "When does your plane leave?" she asked them.

"This afternoon at three," Sarah answered. "We don't have to go."

"Yeah, you do," House told them. "You have to finish college, Sarah. And you have to go do your Peace Corps gig, Jen. I'm going to stay and take care of your mom."

They looked at each other and then back at their mother.

"Well, if Greg's staying, then we'll go," Sarah said with a slight smile. She looked at her sister. "Let's finish packing and then we can take Gran to the airport and do some shopping before we leave." They both kissed Reilly and then left the room.

"I should go finish up my packin'," Meara told them. "My plane leaves at twelve. I'll be back to say goodbye."

Once they were alone, House stretched out next to Reilly. He nuzzled her neck. She turned to kiss him when the phone rang.

"Don't answer it!" Jenny shouted. "It's Dad again!"

House groaned and lay back. Reilly put her hand on his chest.

"He's upset that Jenny wants to wait a year before going to college," Reilly reminded him.

"It's not like she's going to be sitting on her ass," House groaned.

"Well, they'll be gone soon and then you have my permission to talk to him if he calls again."

House propped himself up on one elbow and grinned down at her. "Oh, I will." Leaning down, he kissed her gently. She responded with passion and then yawned.

"Well," he sighed against her lips. "That's a huge blow to my ego."

"Nothing could even dent that massive thing," she teased and then yawned again.

"Go to sleep," he told her. "I'll wake you before they leave."

The next day, House awoke and stretched. Reilly lay on her back beside him, her mouth slightly open, snoring softly. Carefully, he got out of bed and grabbed his cane. After a quick trip to the bathroom, he sat down on the bed beside Reilly. He poured out some water into a glass and then got her medications. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"Wake up," he whispered in her ear. "I've got drugs."

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled sleepily at him. "Morning."

"You snore," he said as he helped her sit up.

"Oh, shit," she sighed. "Did I keep you awake?"

He laughed. "Any other woman would deny it." He handed her the pills and water. She took them and drank all the water.

"If you say I snore, then I snore," she responded. "Gotta pee."

He got up and helped her to the bathroom. When she finished, he helped her back to bed.

"You hungry?" he asked as he got her settled comfortably.

"Yeah, but I can go downstairs and eat," she told him.

"Bed rest, remember?"

"That doesn't mean I have to lie in bed all day."

He put his hands on either side of her and looked down at her. "I'm offering to make breakfast and bring it up here to you," he told her. "You really gonna pass that up?"

"I want pancakes and sausages," she grinned.

The persistent ringing of the doorbell ringing woke both House and Reilly the next morning. House growled, got out of bed, grabbed his cane and made his way downstairs.

"What?" he shouted as he flung the door open.

Cuddy looked at him in shock. "What are you doing here?"

"I was sleeping!"

"Doctor Cuddy?" Reilly asked as she walked up behind House and put her hand on the small of his back. "Is something wrong?"

"I wanted to check on you," Cuddy told her without taking her eyes off House. "I thought your mother was staying with you."

"No," Reilly yawned. "Sorry. She went home when the girls left. Greg is staying with me."

"I notified your craptastic assistant and the board. Obviously your assistant didn't tell you which doesn't really surprise me," House told her. "Cameron is in charge while we're out."

"Well, I'm sorry I woke you two up," Cuddy said and shifted her gaze to Reilly. "How are you? Are you experiencing any headaches, dizziness, numbness?"

"I'm doing much better," Reilly told her. "Greg's taking very good care of me. Would you like to come in for some coffee?"

Cuddy shook her head. "I have to get to work." She shifted her purse from one shoulder to the other. "If you need anything…."

"Thanks," Reilly told her.

Cuddy nodded and turned away. House closed the door.

"Back to bed?" he asked.

Reilly nodded and followed him upstairs.

A few nights later, House awoke to an empty bed. Getting up, he carefully made his way downstairs to the living room. Reilly sat at the piano playing Ave Maria. A single lamp spread a pool of light over her. She still wore bandages on her head but her hair was beginning to grow. It was barely more than a fine mist of red but she was no longer completely bald.

"You only play that song when something's bothering you," he said as he sat down beside her on the piano bench. He leaned his cane against the piano and looked at her.

"You know how I said I want to take it slow?" she asked as she continued to play.

"I recall that vividly."

"I don't want to. I want to sell this house and get one we can live in together. I don't want to live apart any more. I love you." She bit her lip. "I'm in love with you. I want to be with you. I love sleeping next to you. I love having you so close to me."

"I love you, too," he told her. "And we can get a new house but there isn't really anything wrong with this one."

"The stairs."

"You noticed."

"Yeah," she replied. "I want you to be comfortable."

"Okay, then we'll buy a house without stairs. But that can wait. And I don't think that's what's really bothering you."

"I suck at sex," she whispered.

House put his arm around her and kissed the curve where her neck met her shoulder. "Why don't you let me decide that?"

"You say sex is very important. I know it is because that's why Doug said he left me. I'm frigid."

"Smug's an arrogant asshole."

"What if he's right? I don't like having sex," she told him.

House sighed. "You aren't cleared to have sex yet. Can we please go back to bed and worry about this later? Like when we actually have sex?"

"I don't want you to leave me because of that."

He took her hands from the piano keys and turned her so she faced him. "I am not going to leave you," he whispered. "Ever. You are never getting rid of me."

"Promise?" she asked with a worried expression,

He smoothed the furrows between her eyes. "I promise. No can we go back to bed?"

She laughed. "Yes."

They stood and House put his arm around her. He pulled her in for a deep kiss.

"Okay," he said once he pulled back. "Now I'm ready to go back to sleep."